House of Straw

To a superb cafe in a neighbouring village for lunch, hoping to bring birthday comfort to a friend currently going through the seven circles of hell that is buying and selling houses in modern England

The atmosphere is rustic. The building is straw walls with rough plaster. The furnishings are ill-matched and second hand. The menu is a chalk-board. None of this matters. The food is uncomplicated, but flavourful, unusual, copious and, above all, full of joy and imagination and care. How hard is it to provide a cup of coffee? How hard is it to make it look this good, whilst at the same time making it look carefree and guileless? A principle and a philosophy in a cup

In the news, someone else has resigned, and someone else, I think. Our government is record-breaking. I'll drink to that